How do I skip TV commercials, digitally record TV shows, etc. using a
piece of hardware like DVR,
etc.? Do you have any suggestions as to what I should be looking at? I
don't want to spend THAT much, by the way. Also, I am located in
Canada, so such options like TiVo are
unavailable here.

Thanks in advance!

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Request for Question Clarification by redhoss-ga on 06 Mar 2005 08:32 PST

You say "skip commercials". Would you accept being able to fast
forward thru commercials at a very high speed. Are you a "Dish
Network" subscriber or would you consider becoming one.

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Clarification of Question by garyking-ga on 06 Mar 2005 08:51 PST

Are these things that you talk about, available in Canada? I am a
Rogers cable subscriber; yes, fast forwarding is acceptable. Or is
there a way that I can automatically, say, skip forward 2 minutes,
since commercials are normally ~2 minutes? Or do you have to actually
sit there and hold the fast forward button, etc.?

Hello Gary, you should be able to get exactly what we have and it is
great. First of all it looks like dish network is available in Canada:

http://www.dish-network.cn/?kbid=1205

Dish offers a system very similar to Tivo, but be careful. The one
they promote is a DVR (digital video receiver) that will record up to
100 hours of programing. They say it is free, but that is not true.
However, the receiver we got will record up to 35 hours and is
absolutely free. The receiver was free, the shipping was free, and
there is no extra monthly charge. It is what Dish calls the model 501.
It will do nearly everything that Tivo will and is completely free. In
order to fast forward or skip through commercials (there is a 30
second skip button that we never use) you would have to wait a couple
of minutes after a show actually starts or record the entire show for
later viewing. The only downside to any satellite receiver is that you
can't watch one show and record another at the same time. You can do
this with two receivers, but it costs more. Here is info on the Dish
DVR receivers:

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/products/receivers/dvr/index.shtml

Look down the page until you get to "Standard DVR receivers"

DISH 501/508 is a combination DISH Network satellite receiver and
cutting-edge digital video recorder.

FEATURES:

  DVR (Digital Video Recorder) allows you to pause live TV, play, stop, skip
    forward (30 seconds), skip back (10 seconds), quick record
  40-80 gigabyte hard drives
  Up to 60 hours* of 100% digital video recording 
  Optical outputs for Dolby® Digital or Linear PCM digital audio
  Up to 9-day extended Electronic Programming Guide 

I believe that this is as close as you can get to Tivo without paying
extra. Of course you will have to switch over from cable to Dish, but
I will bet that the monthly charges are about the same.

Let me know if there is something I left out.  

Redhoss

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Request for Answer Clarification by garyking-ga on 06 Mar 2005 13:52 PST

For the local channels, etc. will it be local to my region? So, I'm in
Toronto, so will there be, say, local Toronto news available?

Also, isn't there a way to 'do this' without subscribing to a service,
such as a DVR or something? Possibly something to replace my
5-year-old VCR as well, maybe.

Thanks!

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Clarification of Answer by redhoss-ga on 06 Mar 2005 19:04 PST

I unintentionally lied to you. What I thought was a Canadian Dish
Network site is actually not. However, after just talking with Dish
Network, I believe that many people in Canada do get Dish programing
by using a US billing address and Canadian actual location. You would
have to use an antenna to receive local programing. All DVR's that I
can find require a one time payment of $299 or $12.95 per month (which
is the charge for TIVO). Prices for the DVR's range between $100 to
$300. It is very strange to me that neither Dish Network or TIVO are
legally available in Canada. How can you re-play an exciting hockey
goal. It just isn't fair. By the way, I love hockey.

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Request for Answer Clarification by garyking-ga on 13 Mar 2005 12:02 PST

Which DVR would you recommend?

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Clarification of Answer by redhoss-ga on 14 Mar 2005 09:05 PST

I still recommend the Dish Network model 501 receiver. I believe, if
you will do some checking around, there are lots of people in Toronto
that receive Dish programing.

it's called tivo

Tivo does not exist in Canada.

Sorry Garyking, failed to read the end of your question.

I just got a new Digibox (I live in the UK) and I LOVE it!

I can record 2 progs simultaneously on its hard disk and then copy to
VHS should I wish. It's a terrestrial system that's not universally
available, yet.

I can't eliminate the ads but I can fast forward at up to 64x.

Sure makes a difference.

Wow, 64x. My DVD player goes up to 8x; can you even tell when the show
begins again when you FF with 64x?

Hi, Gary

No I get dizzy watching the pictures whizzing by and I haven't yet
mastered all its tricks.

Yesterday, I discovered that it has a 30 minute cache which allows me
to go back and watch or record the beginning of programmes that had
already started!

It's magic.

All the Best

Bryan